Aberdyfi war memorial

AberdyfiAberdyfi war memorial

The memorial set into the retaining wall below St Peter’s Church commemorates local people who died in the First and Second World Wars. To discover who they were, choose a category below. (details coming soon)

First World War

Second World War

We have included details for several people who had Aberdyfi connections but are not named on the war memorial.

The youngest person commemorated is John Vincent Parry of Copper Hill Street, a Merchant Navy cadet who died after a fall on his ship in 1941. He was 16 years old.

Elizabeth Millington, also of Copper Hill Street, lost two sons, Edward and Charles, in the First World War.

Refugee Max Lewinsky, who married a local woman, is named on this memorial and is one of the men commemorated by the No.10 Commando memorial in nearby Penhelig Park.

With thanks to Steve John and Byron Jones, also to David Rynn, Stan Williams and the other historians and relatives who contributed to the 1914-2014 commemoration in the church

Postcode: SY20 9DH    View Location Map

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First World War

Where shown, click this icon for our page in memory of the person: Extra page icon

  • Atkin, Richard Walter, Second Lieutenant. Died 14/08/1917 aged 20. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Dragoon Camp Cemetery. Son of Hon Mr Justice James Richard Atkin (Lord Atkin of Aberdovey) and Lady Lucy Elizabeth Atkin of Craigydon. First cousin, once removed, of Laurence Ruck, below.
  • Davies, Hugh Lewis, Private 12045. Died 27/07/1917 aged 21. South Staffordshire Regiment. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of Hugh and Marret Davies of Panteidal Farm, Pennal, Machynlleth.soldier icon
  • Davies, John Clement, Private 60709. Died 31/08/1917 aged 19. Welsh Regiment. Tyne Cot Memorial. Son of John and Elizabeth Davies of 31, Copper Hill Street.
  • Davies, Owen David, Private 35234. Died 29/10/1917 aged 39. York and Lancaster Regiment. Buried Bard Cottage Cemetery. Husband of Mrs Margaret Ellen Davies of Penygraig, Eglwysbach, near Llandudno. Was a gardener at Bodnant Garden (now a National Trust property).
  • Evans, Thomas Walter, Engine Room Artificer 2048. Died 16/03/1920 aged 35. Royal Naval Reserve. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Son of Emma Evans of 16, Market Square. Not commemorated on Aberdyfi war memorial.
  • Eynon, Lewis Thomas, Private 2214. Died 28/02/1916 aged 33. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Son of John and Winnifred Eynon of 5 Evans Terrace. Fell ill while taking part in the disastrous Gallipoli landings and died at Shrewsbury. Was a general labourer before enlisting.
  • Griffith, Robert Owen, Gunner 205513. Died 29/06/1917. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery.
  • Hughes, David John, Private 13926. Died 22/04/1917 aged 31. King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Buried Karasouli Military Cemetery. Youngest son of Mr and Mrs Owen Hughes of Cader View, Tywyn; husband of Maggie Hughes (nee Williams) of 1 Bodfor Terrace, Aberdyfi. Rank given as Company Quartermaster Sergeant in the press. Was a Corporal when he married in 1915. Worked in Swansea before the war. Not commemorated on Aberdyfi war memorial.
  • Jones, David Rees, Private 3228. Died 04/01/1920 aged 35. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Son of Margaret Jones of Prospect Place; husband of Sarah Jones of 32, Terrace Road. Not commemorated on Aberdyfi war memorial.
  • Jones, Ivor Jenkin, Private 37532. Died 03/09/1918 aged 22.  Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Vis-en-Artois Memorial. Son of John and Margaret Jones of Penwern Farm, Cilcennin, Cardiganshire. Was a clerk in the National Provincial Bank at Aberdyfi.
  • Jones, John, Corporal 2566. Died 12/08/1915 aged 27. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Lancashire Landing Cemetery. Son of John and Mary Jones of Pant-y-llan, Arthog, Dolgellau; husband of Catty R. Jones, caretaker of The Literary Institute, Aberdyfi. Not commemorated on Aberdyfi war memorial.
  • Jones, Owen Thomas, Private 44162. Died 14/09/1918 aged 23. North Staffordshire Regiment. Buried La Kreule Military Cemetery. Son of Mary Jones of 50, Copper Hill Street. Two brothers also served in the army.
  • Jones, William, Private 290597. Died 27/07/1917. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of Mrs Jones of 15 Copper Hill Street. Was an apprentice to Alderman Jones-Hughes before enlisting.
  • Joyce, Philip Solomon, Lieutenant. Died 06/03/1917 aged 20. Royal Flying Corps. Arras Flying Services Memorial. Son of Harry and Pauline Joyce of 11, Augustus Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham.
  • Lumley, Ivor, Private 35509. Died 22/03/1918 aged 25. Machine Gun Corps. Arras Memorial. Second son of food inspector John Lumley and Gwen Lumley of Trem-y-Lerry. His brother Idris also served. Was a carpenter.
  • Millington, Charles Henry, Private 54455, Died 23/04/1917. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Arras Memorial. Son of Mrs Elizabeth Millington of 12, Copper Hill Street. Brother of Edward, below.
  • Millington, Edward Richard, Lance Corporal 10052. Died 11/04/1918 aged 33. South Wales Borderers. Ploegsteert Memorial. Son of Mrs Elizabeth Millington of 12, Copper Hill Street. Served at the start of the war alongside Japanese forces to oust Germans from Tsingtao, China. Survived the disastrous Gallipoli landings in 1915.
  • Morgan, David, Private 39052, Died 18/07/1917 aged 20. South Wales Borderers. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Son of Mr and Mrs John Morgan.
  • Phillips, John, Lieutenant, Died 09/01/1918 aged 49. Royal Naval Reserve. Buried Cuidhir (Or Barra Parish) Churchyard, Isle of Barra. Son of Mrs Phillips of Chapel Square; husband of Edith Mary Phillips of Northend Bungalow, 31 Coleys Lane, Northfield, Birmingham. Was sent home to Birmingham on a month’s sick leave after serving in the Gallipoli landings in 1915.
  • Power, Brian Christopher, Lance Corporal 296. Died 23/07/1916 aged 20. Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Thiepval Memorial. Son of Frederick Arthur and Ellen Mary Power of Brynmeddyg.
  • Proctor, James Adolphus, Second Lieutenant. Died 18/09/1918 aged 22. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Marteville Communal Cemetery. Son of Edward Bernard and Helen Mary Proctor of Preswylfa. Educated at Birkenhead School, where he played rugby for the school team. Worked for shipping firm Alfred Holt & Company before enlisting.
  • Richards, John, Private 2785. Died 10/08/1915 aged 21. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Helles Memorial. Son of Richard C and Catherine Richards of Railway Crossing, Llanbedr. Enlisted in Aberdyfi. His parents were still waiting for news of his whereabouts two years after he died during the disastrous attempt to invade Turkey through the Gallipoli peninsula.
  • Ruck, Laurence Humphrey, Lieutenant. Died 11/03/1915 aged 26. Worcestershire Regiment. Le Touret Memorial. Son of Colonel and Mrs Oliver Edwal Ruck (Royal Engineers) of Brynderw; cousin of Justice Aitken, whose son Richard was also killed (above). Educated at Beaumont College. Joined the army before the war. Left money in his will to his friend Edda Bell, Aberdyfi’s ferryman, who used the money to buy a new ferryboat which was named The Hero.
  • Savage, Robert, Private 203764. Died 08/07/1918 aged 32. Yorkshire Regiment. Buried Sissonne British Cemetery. Son of Henry and Isabella Savage; husband of Annie Savage of 23, Church Street. Born at Clitheroe, Lancashire. Was taken prisoner of war on 27/05/1918 and died in Berlin. His brother William also died in the war.
  • Shorland-Ball, Leslie, Second Lieutenant. Died 06/09/1916 aged 33. Royal Irish Fusiliers. Thiepval Memorial. Son of George and Amy Shorland-Ball of 8 Walpole Street, Chelsea, London. Was secretary of Aberdyfi golf club.
  • Silk, Edwin Guy, Private 80. Died 20/09/1918 aged 35. Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Buried Canadian Cemetery. Son of Edwin and Elinor Silk of 11 Penhelig; husband of Ethel Silk of 18, Hungerford Terrace, Crewe, Cheshire.
  • Thomas, Herbert Carlisle, Serjeant 243063. Died 13/05/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery. Lived at Copper Hill Street. Left a widow. Moved to Aberdyfi from Merthyr Tydfil after his marriage.
  • Thomas, Hugh, Private 2415. Died 09/05/1918 aged 34. Welsh Guards. Buried Bagneux British Cemetery. Son of William and Gwen Thomas of Tynewydd Farm.soldier icon
  • Williams, Arthur, Lance Corporal 26541. Died 10/11/1917 aged 22. South Wales Borderers. Buried Poelcapelle British Cemetery. Son of Edward and Emma Williams of 9 Penhelig. Was a postman in Aberarth, Ceredigion.
  • Williams, Lewis, Deck Hand, 875/SD. Died 10/09/1917 aged 53. Royal Naval Reserve. Buried Newport (St Woolos) Cemetery. Son of Lewis and Ann Williams; husband of Mary Ann Williams of 2 Bodfor Terrace, Aberdyfi. Born in Aberdyfi. Not commemorated on Aberdyfi war memorial. Died at the Royal Naval Hospital, Chatham.
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Second World War

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  • Arthur, Charles Austin, Captain 112758. Died 22/11/1941 aged 50. South Wales Borderers. Son of George and Hannah Arthur, of Cuelfan Villa, Tywyn; husband of Elizabeth Arthur (nee Worton) of Aberdyfi.
  • Clare, Seymour, Sergeant 652303. Died 13/08/1942 aged 28. Royal Air Force. Runnymede Memorial. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Clare of Etruria, Staffordshire; husband of Nellie Clare of 27 Copper Hill Street.
  • Dain, John Ryland, Major 65855. Died 26/08/1944 aged 35. Leicestershire Regiment. Buried Lieurey Communal Cemetery. Awarded Territorial Decoration. Son of Harry Guy and Flora Elizabeth Dain of Birmingham; husband of Mary Reyner Dain of King's Norton, Birmingham. Gained a Master of Arts degree at Trinity College, Cambridge.
  • Davies, Owen Leslie, Fusilier 4195182. Died 04/10/1939. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Son of Joseph and Hannah Davies. Worked in his brother John’s bakery at Tai Newydd, Copper Hill Street.
  • Evans, John Elias, Able Seaman, Lamp Trimmer. Died 21/10/1939 aged 42. Merchant Navy - SS Orsa. Buried North Somercotes Cemetery, Lincolnshire. Born in Aberdyfi. Son of Elias and Margaret Jane Evans;  husband of  Alice Evans, of Ardrossan, Ayrshire. Lost when the ship struck a mine and sank off Flamborough Head, Yorkshire, with the loss of 11 of the 15 crew. Not commemorated on Aberdyfi war memorial.
  • Evans, Linus, Captain 217383. Died 08/02/1945 aged 32. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Buried Reichswald Forest War Cemetery. Son of John and Eleanor Evans; husband of Margaret Magdalen Elizabeth Evans of Aberystwyth.
  • Green, Henry Constantine, Trooper 7909980. Died 08/04/1941 aged 24. Royal Armoured Corps. Buried Knightsbridge War Cemetery. Son of Mr & Mrs Walter Green of Bryn Cottage, Aberdyfi.
  • Hayler, John Matthias, Gunner 1512189. Died 15/03/1941 aged 22. Royal Artillery. Plymouth Naval Memorial. Son of Samuel and Mary Hayler of Aberdyfi. Was on a mechanical apprenticeship before enlisting. Joined the Maritime Regiment, which provided defensive gunners on merchant ships. Died when the tanker Athelfoam was sunk by German battleships.
  • Lewinsky, Max, Private 6387023. Died 06/06/1944 aged 32. Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regiment and No.10 Commando. Buried Hermanville War Cemetery. Served as Max Laddy. Husband of Margaret Laddy (nee Rees). Max was an Austrian. He fled from Prague to avoid Nazi persecution of Jews and worked on a farm in the Cardiff area before joining No.10 Commando. He met Margaret while training in Aberdyfi. Died during the D-Day landings in Normandy.soldier icon
  • Lincoln, Clifford, Captain 145407. Died 31 July 1944 aged 33. Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. Buried at Hottot-Les-Bagues War Cemetery. Awarded Military Cross. Son of TIT and Margaret Lincoln; husband of Frances Elizabeth Lincoln (nee Thomas), of Aberdyfi. Not named on Aberdyfi war memorial.
  • Lloyd, John Cyril, Sergeant 973800. Died 04/09/1943 aged 22. Royal Air Force. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Lived at Bryn Hyfryd.
  • Parry, John Vincent, Apprentice (“Cadet” on war memorial). Died 29/01/1941 aged 16. Merchant Navy – SS Trevilley (London). Born in Aberdyfi. Son of John & Agnes Parry of 39 Copper Hill Street. Died as result of fall while his ship was anchored in the Firth of Clyde.
  • Rees, John Llewelyn, Flight Lieutenant 39158. Died accidentally 05/08/1940 aged 29. Royal Air Force. Buried Arthog (St. Catherine) Churchyard. Son of Rev Nathaniel Rees and Mrs Rees of The Vicarage, Arthog.
  • Shortland, Wilfred Owen, Sergeant 562875. Died 12/05/1940 aged 28. Royal Air Force. Buried Heverlee War Cemetery. Son of Henry Robert and Susannah Shortland; husband of Florence Elizabeth Shortland of Limbury, Bedfordshire.
  • Smith, John, Serjeant 7923001. Died 26/04/1943 aged 36. 9th Queen’s Royal Lancers. Buried Medjez-El-Bab Memorial. Son of George and Mary Smith; husband of Charlotte Irma Smith of Marsh, Huddersfield.
  • Whittaker, John, Flight Lieutenant 77998. Died 28/06/1943 aged 48. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Aberdyfi Cemetery. Mentioned in Dispatches. Son of John Henry and Alice Whittaker; husband of Alice Whittaker.
  • Winser De Reuda, David Michael, Lieutenant 305697. Died 01/11/1944 aged 29. Royal Army Medical Corps. Buried Bergen-Op-Zoom War Cemetery. Awarded Military Cross. Son of Commander Alfred Michael Winser, Royal Navy, and Elizabeth Marjorie Winser of Hampstead, London; stepson of Frances Alice De Reuda (nee Sayer) of Aberdyfi. Studied at Winchester and trained to be a doctor at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. Rowed three years for Oxford and won the university’s Newdigate Prize for poetry. Worked in a London hospital during the Blitz.
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